RESIDENTS hope the introduction of holiday lets will bring a “sorely-missed” pub back to life.
Plans to convert the upper floors of the Mount Pleasant Inn have been given the go-ahead by Worcester City Council.
Owners Mount Pleasant Group say the opening of holiday lets would support the reopening of the pub itself on the ground floor.
CLOSED: A plan for holiday lets could be the key to the pub reopening (Image: Phil Wilkinson-Jones/LDRS)
The pub in London Road, which was popular with rugby players and fans, has been closed for more than two years.
City planners said: “The partial change of use relates only to the first floor and therefore retains the primary function and availability of the public house to the local community.
“It is also noted that the re-use of the upper floor for holiday accommodation may support the ongoing viability of the business by diversifying its offer and providing an additional income stream.”
Officers also said the proposals would provide a “different offering” to the hotel being developed on the site of the former Debenhams in High Street.
The council received 26 comments from residents in support of the plans, seven general comments and two objections.
Lindsey Fellows said: “As a local resident, living a five-minute walk from the Mount Pleasant, the closure of the public house has marked a period where a community hub has been sorely missed.
“I wholeheartedly support this application and look forward to a friendly local being part of our community once more.”
Hannah Barwell said it would “be great to see the premises having some life breathed back into it and bring some more revenue to the city and energy to the local community”.
Lee Cotton said: “What a great addition to the reopening of a great local establishment, bringing in tourists who can walk into the city centre to enjoy all that Worcester has to offer, both daytime and nighttime.”
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Simon Caddick said the pub has been “empty too long and has been a real and genuine loss to the community”.
Darren Thompson said the Mount Pleasant was “an important community hub for a lot of people for a long time and is sadly missed”.
“For it to offer much needed accommodation in Worcester is also a no brainer as its public knowledge that’s there’s currently a shortage of hotel rooms in Worcester and not enough to support Worcester’s growth plans or ambitions.”
